Progress 05/01/06 to 04/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: A total of 851 participants were originally enrolled in the project. Participants received monthly age-paced parenting newsletters during their child's first year followed by a Year 1 evaluation survey. They then received bi-monthly age-paced parenting newsletters during the child's second year, followed by a Year 2 evaluation. Staff at program sites also invited participants to workshops on a variety of topics focused on child development or parenting. At the end of the child's first year, Year 1 surveys were mailed to 727 continuing participants (the remainder had moved during the first year and could not be located). Of these, 121 (17%) were returned as undeliverable, and 238 surveys were completed and returned, which accounts for 33% of the originally registered participants and 39% of registered participants who could be located. At the end of the child's second year, Year 2 surveys were sent to 646 continuing participants. Of these, 87 (13%) were returned as undeliverable, and 233 surveys were completed and returned, which accounts for 36% of the remaining participants and 42% of remaining participants who could be located. Surveys were also collected from 80 parents of 2-year olds from the same communities who did not participate in the program and served as a comparison group. Events: As part of the program, field sites offered parenting workshops to program participants, as well as the wider community. Over the course of the project, sites conducted 124 parenting program sessions, with 1,611 participants. Participation by those enrolled in the Partners in Parenting program was limited but was not unexpected. Rather, this lack of participation in workshops reflects conditions that were part of the original rationale for using a direct delivery method as the major component of the Illinois SCP project. Products: Community collaborations established in the previous years of the project were maintained and expanded by project staff. Over 60 agencies and organizations were represented on community coalitions during the project period. Dissemination: Program staff and community partners conducted presentations during the annual National Children, Youth, and Families at Risk Conferences. The results have been used to provide a rationale for distributing age-paced newsletters as part of a state-wide family life program for University of Illinois Extension. PARTICIPANTS: Project Director, Aaron Ebata, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist Family Life. Co-Project Director, Judee Richardson, Extension Specialist Family Life. Co-Project Director, Al Zwilling, Extension Specialist Project Development and Sustainability, Mary Alice Wu, Project Evaluator, and Tom Ward Extension Specialist, Computer Training Services. Cook County: Willene Buffett, Cook County Director, Sharon Baksh, Asst. Director, Curriculum and Evaluation, Marilu Andon, Cook County Educator, Alisa Nash, and Aida Peralta Community Project Coordinators. Community and faith based program partners: Proviso Township, Maywood Mentoring Program, Proviso-Leyden Council for Community Action, Department of Human Services, Chicago Nutrition Center, Chicago Public Library, Simpson Academy for Young Women, Teen Parenting Program, Chicago Department of Human Services - Family Community Resource Center, Friend Family Health Center, Harper High School and A Knock at Midnight, TCA Health, Healthy Families Illinois, Chicago Department of Public Health, CEDA, Family Focus, YWCA, Catholic Charities, Miles Square Health Center, Chicago Family Health Leyden High School and School District 89, CASA Central, and World Changers Leadership Academy. Southern Illinois: Franklin County: Alice Hunt, Family and Consumer Science Community Worker and Julie Mumbower, County Extension Director. Jackson County: Joyce Pyatt, Family Life Educator, Jefferson County Myrtle DeLoach, County Extension Director and Susan Mosler, CYFAR Community Coordinator, Coordinator Milly Kaiser, Family Life Educator. Community and faith based partners include: Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health, SIU Southern Region of Early Childhood Programs, John A Logan College, Pre-K School Programs, Head Start, Child Care Resource and Referral, Benton Community High School, Family Community Resource Center, Head Start, CASA of Franklin County, Lutheran Social Services, Rend Lake College, Project Echo, The H Group, Frankfort Community High School, Child Care Resource and Referral, SIU Family Medicine, Jefferson County Health Department, Senior Services, Jefferson County Housing Authority, Angel's Cove, Kids Hope United, Best Beginnings, Adolescent Health Center, Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois, Child and Family Connections, Family Center, Southern Illinois University, Southern Illinois Regional Social Services, Illinois Children's Masonic Home, Jackson County Housing Authority, Egyptian Area Agency on Aging, retired school administrator, Illinois Department of Human Services, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Coalition, Prevent Child Abuse of Illinois, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Network Development, Community and Residential Services Authority, Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership, Family Leadership Initiative, Superintendent of Child Development, Carbondale Park District, Illinois Association for Home and Community Education, and University of Illinois Extension. TARGET AUDIENCES: An analysis of the 851 participants registered as of September 30, 2010 confirmed the "high-risk" nature of the sample: Over one-half (58%) were first time mothers, 70% of whom are under 25 years old. Most were unmarried (64%), had only a high school or General Education Degree (67%), were unemployed (69%), and had family incomes less than $12,000 (60%). A plurality of program participants identify themselves as African American (47%), while 37% identify themselves as White and 13% as Latino. In general, participants who dropped out of the study (because their newsletters were returned as undeliverable and who could not be located) or who could not be located for the Year 1 and 2 surveys were more likely to be from urban areas and made less than $12,000. Participants who returned completed surveys were more likely to be older, have incomes greater than $12,000, and have at least a high school degree. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Changes in Knowledge or Attitudes: In both Year 1 and Year 2, parents reported that the newsletter helped them to gain knowledge about child development and parenting. Almost all of the participants "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the newsletters helped them learn to: Know what to expect their child to be able to do at each age (96% in Year 1, 94% in Year 2), Understand that some of the annoying things their child does are normal for that age (92%, 96%), Notice their child's cues (92%, 94%), Have more ideas about ways they can play with their child to help him/her learn (95%, 95%), Understand that their child is not trying to be bad or to make them mad on purpose (94%, 92%), Have more ideas about disciplining their child without spanking or slapping (86%, 91%). In Year 1, 83% said that the newsletter helped them to know when to schedule well-baby checkups and immunizations. At both Year 1 and Year 2, participants considered the Parenting 1st-3rd Year newsletters as the most useful source of information about children and parenting that they had used. At Year 1, 83% said it was "as" or "more useful" than doctors or other health care professionals, 61% said it was "as" or "more useful" than child care providers, and 55% said it was "as" or "more useful" than parenting classes (which is especially significant in that 40% have never participated in parenting classes). At Year 2 68% of participants rated the newsletters as being "very useful", compared to doctors or other health care professionals (58%), friends (42%), relatives (39%), books or magazines (37%), or parenting classes (16%). It should be noted that only 37% of the parents had ever attended a parenting class. Change in Actions: The newsletters promoted specific parenting practices at Year 1, including: Provide opportunities for my baby to explore and learn (63%), Feed my baby safe and healthy food (62%), Talk and listen to my baby (64%), Try different ways to calm my baby and help my baby stop crying (60%), Have patience when my baby is fussy or does something annoying (60%), Protect my baby from accidental injuries (60%), Be less angry when my baby is difficult (54%), Show my baby books and pictures (55%), Take care of myself (50%). In Year 2, over 91% of the participants "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the newsletters helped them "Try different ways to handle feeling angry or frustrated". A large majority of the participants said they felt more confident in their skills as a parent from reading the newsletter (89% in Year 1, 94% in Year 2), and that the newsletter helped them feel more comfortable talking with their doctor when they had a question or concern (85% in Year 1, 91% in Year 2). In year 2 we found that program participants were more likely to report using parenting practices that promote healthy outcomes for children, compared to parents from the same communities who did not receive the newsletters. Program participants reported higher levels of authoritative parenting (warm support, reasoning, and autonomy granting) and lower levels of authoritarian (coercion, verbal hostility, and punishment) and permissive (indulgent) parenting practices.
Publications
- Ebata, A.T., Richardson, J.A. and Zwilling, A. 2010. Promoting positive parenting among low-income rural and urban parents of infants: Results after one year of program participation. Poster presented at the annual Children, Youth, and Families At Risk Conference, San Francisco, CA.
- Baksh, S.D.R. and Brown, Y. 2010. Taking it on the road: Technology integration within limited-resource communities. Showcase presentation at the annual Children, Youth, and Families At Risk Conference, San Francisco, CA.
- Pyatt, J. and Kaiser, M. 2010. Partners in Parenting: Mapping parent enrichment. Showcase presentation at the annual Children, Youth, and Families At Risk Conference, San Francisco, CA.
- Ebata, A.T., Richardson, J.A. and Zwilling, A. 2011. Promoting positive parenting among low-income rural and urban parents of toddlers: Results after two years of program participation. Poster presented at the DoD/USDA Family Resiliency Conference, Chicago, IL.
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Progress 05/01/09 to 04/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: A total of 851 participants were enrolled in the project as of September 30, 2010. These participants received monthly age-paced parenting newsletters during their child's first year, followed by a Year 1 evaluation survey. They then received bi-monthly age-paced parenting newsletters during the child's second year, followed by a Year 2 evaluation. Staff at program sites also invited participants to workshops on a variety of topics focused on child development or parenting. As of September 30, 2010, 727 Year 1 surveys had been mailed, 121 (17%) were returned as undeliverable, and 238 surveys were completed and returned, which accounts for 33% of the originally registered participants and 39% of registered participants who could be located. In addition, 593 Year 2 surveys had been mailed, 61 (10%) were returned as undeliverable, and 183 surveys were completed and returned, which accounts for 31% of all registered participants and 34% of registered participants who could be located. Surveys were also collected from 80 parents of 2-year olds who did not participate in the program and are serving as a control group. Results are discussed only for program participants who returned surveys as of September 30, 2010. Events: As part of the program, field sites offered parenting workshops to program participants, as well as the wider community. In Southern Illinois, staff offered 50 programs that were attended by 685 participants (20 of whom were participants in the Partners in Parenting program). In Cook County, Illinois Extension staff offered six programs attended by 115 participants. Participation by those enrolled in the Partners in Parenting program was limited but was not unexpected. Rather, this lack of participation in workshops reflects conditions that were part of the original rationale for using a direct delivery method as the major component of the Illinois SCP project. Products: Community collaborations established in the previous years of the project were maintained and expanded by project staff. The number of agencies and organizations represented on community coalitions has been maintained at sixty in the past year. Dissemination: Program staff and community partners conducted two share displays for practitioners a research poster at the National Children, Youth, and Families at Risk Conference in San Francisco, CA. PARTICIPANTS: Project Director, Aaron Ebata, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist Family Life, Co Project Director, Judee Richardson, Extension Specialist Family Life, Co Project Director, Al Zwilling, Extension Specialist, Project Development and Sustainability, Mary Alice Wu, Project Evaluator, and Tom Ward, Extension Specialist, Computer Training Services. Cook County: Willene Buffett, Cook County Director, Sharon Baksh, Asst. Director, Curriculum and Evaluation, Marilu Andon, Cook County Educator, Alisa Nash and Aida Peralta, Community Project Coordinators. Community and faith based program partners: Proviso Township, Maywood Mentoring Program, Proviso-Leyden Council for Community Action, Department of Human Services, Chicago Nutrition Center, Chicago Public Library, Simpson Academy for Young Women, Teen Parenting Program, Chicago Department of Human Services- Family Community Resource Center, Friend Family Health Center, Harper High School and A Knock at Midnight, TCA Health, Healthy Families Illinois, Chicago Department of Public Health, CEDA, Family Focus, YWCA, Catholic Charities, Miles Square Health Center, Chicago Family Health, Leyden High School and School District 89, CASA Central, and World Changers Leadership Academy. Southern Illinois: Franklin County: Alice Hunt, Family and Consumer Science Community Worker and Julie Mumbower, County Extension Director. Jackson County: Joyce Pyatt, Family Life Educator, Jefferson County, Myrtle DeLoach, County Extension Director and Susan Mosler, CYFAR Community Coordinator, Coordinator Milly Kaiser, Family Life Educator. Community and faith based partners include: Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Franklin-Williamson Bi-County Health, SIU Southern Region of Early Childhood Programs, John A. Logan College, Pre-K School Programs, Head Start, Child Care Resource and Referral, Benton Community High School, Family Community Resource Center, Head Start, CASA of Franklin County, Lutheran Social Services, Rend Lake College, Project Echo, The H Group, Frankfort Community High School, Child Care Resource and Referral, SIU Family Medicine, Jefferson County Health Department, Senior Services, Jefferson County Housing Authority, Angel's Cove, Kids Hope United, Best Beginnings, Adolescent Health Center, Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois, Child and Family Connections, Family Center, Southern Illinois University, Southern Illinois Regional Social Services, Illinois Children's Masonic Home, Jackson County Housing Authority, Egyptian Area Agency on Aging, Illinois Department of Human Services, Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Coalition, Prevent Child Abuse of Illinois, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Network Development, Community and Residential Services Authority, Illinois Children's Mental Health Partnership, Family Leadership Initiative, Superintendent of Child Development, Carbondale Park District, Illinois Association for Home and Community Education, and University of Illinois Extension. TARGET AUDIENCES: An analysis of the 851 participants registered as of September 30, 2010 confirmed the "high-risk" nature of the sample: Over one-half (58%) were first time mothers, 70% of whom are under 25 years old. Most were unmarried (64%), had only a high school or General Education Degree (67%), were unemployed (69%), and had family incomes less than $12,000 (60%). A plurality of program participants identify themselves as African American (47%), while 37% identify themselves as White and 13% as Latino. In general, participants who dropped out of the study (because their newsletters were returned as undeliverable) or who could not be located for the Year 1 and 2 surveys were more likely to be from urban areas and made less than $12,000. Participants who returned completed surveys were more likely to be older, have incomes greater than $12,000, and have at least a high school degree. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: A control group for our Year 2 evaluation survey (N=80) was added upon approval by our USDA liaison.
Impacts
Changes in Knowledge or Attitudes: In both Year 1 and Year 2, parents reported that the newsletter helped them to gain knowledge about child development and parenting. Almost all of the participants "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the newsletters helped them learn to: Know what to expect their child to be able to do at each age (96% in Year 1, 95% in Year 2), Understand that some of the annoying things their child does are normal for that age (92%, 96%), Notice their child's cues (what the child needs) (92%, 95%), Have more ideas about ways they can play with their child to help him/her learn (95%, 97%), Understand that their child is not trying to be bad or to make them mad on purpose (94%, 92%), Have more ideas about disciplining their child without spanking or slapping (86%, 93%). At both Year 1 and Year 2, participants considered the Parenting newsletters as the most useful source of information about children and parenting that they had used. At Year 1, when asked to compare the usefulness of the information in the newsletter to other sources of information, 83% said it was "as" or "more useful" than doctors or other health care professionals, 61% said it was "as" or "more useful" than child care providers, and 55% said it was "as" or "more useful" than parenting classes (which is especially significant in that 40% have never participated in parenting classes). At Year 2 we asked parents to rate sources of information separately (instead of directly comparing the newsletter to other sources as in Year 1). Despite the difference in methodology, the results were similar to that in Year 1, with 68% rated the newsletters as being "very useful", compared to doctors or other health care professionals (58%), friends (40%), relatives (38%), books or magazines (38%), or parenting classes (16%). Change in Actions: When asked how much impact reading the newsletter had on using specific parenting practices at Year 1, parents said it helped them to do the following things "quite a bit more" or "a lot more" than what they would have done without the newsletter: Provide opportunities for my baby to explore and learn (63%), Feed my baby safe and healthy food (62%), Talk and listen to my baby (64%), Try different ways to calm my baby and help my baby stop crying (60%), Have patience when my baby is fussy or does something annoying (60%), Protect my baby from accidental injuries (60%), Be less angry when my baby is difficult (54%), Show my baby books and pictures (55%), Take care of myself (50%). In Year 2, over 90% of the participants "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the newsletters helped them "Try different ways to handle feeling angry or frustrated". A large majority of the participants "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that they felt more confident in their skills as a parent from reading the newsletter (89% in Year 1, 95% in Year 2). Moreover, participants also claimed that the newsletter helped them feel more comfortable talking with their doctor when they had a question or concern (85% in Year 1, 91% in Year 2). In Year 1, 83% said that the newsletter helped them to know when to schedule well-baby checkups and immunizations.
Publications
- Pyatt, J. and Kaiser, M. 2010. Partners in parenting: Mapping parent enrichment. Showcase presentation at the annual Children, Youth, and Families At Risk Conference,, San Francisco, CA.
- Ebata, A.T., Richardson, J.A. and Zwilling, A. 2010. Promoting positive change among low-income rural and urban parents of infants: Results after one year of program participation. Poster presented at the annual Children, Youth, and Families At Risk Conference, San Francisco, CA.
- Baksh, S.D.R. and Brown, Y. 2010. Taking it on the road: Technology integration within limited-resource communities. Showcase presentation at the annual Children, Youth, and Families At Risk Conference, San Francisco, CA.
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Progress 05/01/08 to 04/30/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: A total of 851 participants were enrolled in the project as of October 15, 2009. These participants received monthly age-paced parenting newsletters during their child's first year, followed by a Year 1 evaluation survey. They then received bi-monthly age-paced parenting newsletters during the child's second year, followed by a Year 2 evaluation survey. As of October 15, 2009, 603 Year 1 surveys had been mailed, 113 (19%) were returned as undeliverable, and 193 surveys were completed and returned, which accounts for 33% of all registered participants and 41% of registered participants who could be located. As of this date, 242 Year 2 surveys had been mailed, 45 (23%) were returned as undeliverable, and 67 surveys were completed and returned, which accounts for 28% of all registered participants and 34% of registered participants who could be located. The distribution of newsletters and evaluation surveys will continue through April of 2011. Events: As part of the program, field sites offered parenting workshops to program participants, as well as the wider community. In Southern Illinois, staff offered 64 programs that were attended by 723 participants (52 of whom were participants in the Partners in Parenting program). In Cook County, Illinois Extension staff offered four programs attended by 92 participants (3 of whom were participants in the Partners in Parenting program). This represents an increase over the previous year in both the total number of parenting programs offered as well as the total number of participants. Participation by those enrolled in the Partners in Parenting program was limited but this was not unexpected. Rather, this lack of participation in workshops reflects conditions that were part of the original rationale for using a direct-delivery method as the major component of the Illinois SCP project. Program staff attended monthly teleconference meetings, as well as an all staff retreat on April 7th and 8th that focused on technology integration, program calibration, and sustainability. Products: Community collaborations established in the previous years of the project were maintained and expanded by project staff. The number of agencies and organizations represented on community coalitions has grown from thirty seven to sixty in past year. Dissemination: Program staff and community partners conducted a workshop and presented a research poster at the National Children, Youth, and Families at Risk Conference in Baltimore, Maryland. PARTICIPANTS: Project Director, Aaron Ebata, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist Family Life, Co-Project Director, Judee Richardson, Extension Specialist Family Life, Co-Project Director, Al Zwilling Extension Specialist Project Development and Sustainability, Mary Alice Wu, Project Evaluator, and Tom Ward Extension Specialist, Computer Training Services. Cook County: Willene Buffett, Cook County Director, Sharon Baksh, Asst. Director, Curriculum and Evaluation, Marilu Andon, Cook County Educator, Daphne Lloyd, Community Organizer, Alisa Nash, and Aida Peralta Community Project Coordinators. Community and faith based program partners: Proviso Township, Maywood Mentoring Program, Proviso-Leyden Council for Community Action, Department of Human Services, Chicago Nutrition Center, Chicago Public Library, Simpson Academy for Young Women, Teen Parenting program, Chicago Department of Human Services - Family Community Resource Center, Friend Family Health Center, Harper High School and A Knock at Midnight, TCA Health, Healthy Families Illinois, Chicago Department of Public Health, CEDA, Family Focus, YWCA, Catholic Charities, Miles Square Health Center, Chicago Family Health Leyden High School and School District 89. Southern Illinois: Franklin County Alice Hunt, Family and Consumer Science Community Worker and Joy Richey, County Extension Director. Jackson County Joyce Pyatt, Family Life Educator, Jefferson County Myrtle DeLoach, County Extension Director and Susan Mosler, CYFAR Community Coordinator, Coordinator Milly Kaiser, Family Life Educator, Community based partners include: Adolescent Health Center, Child Care Resource and Referral, Child and Family Connections, Community High Schools, Comprehensive Services, Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, Department of Child and Family Services, Family Center, Family Community Resource Center, Family Medicine Clinic, Head Starts, Health Departments/WIC, Hospitals, Human Services, Regional Office of Education, Rend Lake College Parenting Program, and Project Echo/Even Start, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Illinois Association of Home and Community Education, John A Logan College, Project Echo, The H Group, Kids Hope United and Prevent Child Abuse Illinois. Faith-based program partners include: Baptist Children's Home and Services (Angel's Cove), Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Social Services, and Methodist Children's Home. TARGET AUDIENCES: An analysis of the 851 participants registered as of October 15, 2009 showed that: Over one-half (58%) are first time mothers, with other participants having between 1 and 8 additional children (with a median of 2 children). Participants' age varies from 15 to 62 years (8 participants are grandmothers caring for children), and 70% of the participants are under 25 years old. Just over one-third (37%) are married or live with a partner, 42% are single but living with parents or other family members, and 22% are single and live alone. A plurality of program participants identify themselves as African American (47%), while 37% identify themselves as White and 13% as Latino. Most of the parents have only a high school or General Education Degree (67%) but 21% have not graduated from high school. Most of the participants (69%) are unemployed, with 33% going to school part-time or full-time. Over one-half (60%) of the participants have family incomes less than $12,000, with 16% making between $12,000 and $19,999, and 24% making over $20,000. Of the 603 Year 1 surveys that have been mailed (as of October 15, 2009), 193 (33%) were returned completed, while 113 (19%) were returned because participants had moved and could not be located. If the number of returned surveys are taken into account, the participation rate is 41% (which is somewhat better than rates of participation for survey research in general populations). In general, undelivered Year 1 surveys (because the participant moved and could not be located) were more common among urban participants and those making less than $12,000. Compared to all the participants who registered for the project, those who actually returned Year 1 surveys were more likely to be older, have incomes greater than $12,000, and have at least a high school degree. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: A control group for our Year 2 evaluation survey (N=80) was added upon approval by our USDA liaison.
Impacts
Outcomes are based on 193 participants who completed self-report surveys after one year of receiving the age-paced newsletter as part of the program. As of October 15, 2009, 851 participants had been registered in the program, 603 Year 1 surveys had been mailed, 113 (19%) were returned as undeliverable, and 193 surveys were completed and returned. This accounts for 33% of all registered participants and 41% of registered participants who could be located. An analysis of the registration data confirmed the "high-risk" nature of the sample: Over one-half (58%) are first time mothers, 70% of whom are under 25 years old. Most are unmarried (64%), have only a high school or General Education Degree (67%), are unemployed (69%), and have family incomes less than $12,000 (60%). Changes in Knowledge or Attitudes: When asked to compare the usefulness of the information in the newsletter to other sources of information, 83% said it was "as" or "more useful" than doctors or other health care professionals, over 62% said it was "as" or "more useful" than child care providers, and 49% said it was "as" or "more useful" than parenting classes which is significant in that another 44% have participated in parenting classes. In terms of knowledge, over 90% of the participants "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the newsletters helped them learn to: 1. Know what to expect my baby to be able to do at each age; 2. Understand that some of the annoying things my baby does are normal for that age; 3. Notice my baby's clues (what my baby needs and is trying to tell me); 4. Have more ideas about ways I can play with my baby to help him/her learn; 5. Have more ideas about disciplining my child without spanking or slapping; and 6. Understand that my baby is not trying to be bad or to make me mad on purpose. Eighty-nine percent of the participants "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that they felt more confident in their skills as a parent from reading the newsletter, while 88% said they now felt more comfortable talking with their doctor when they had a question or concern and 86% said they now knew when to schedule well-baby checkups and immunizations. Change in Actions: When asked how much impact reading the newsletter had on using specific parenting practices, between 50-61% said it helped them to do the following things "quite a bit more" or "a lot more" that what they would have done without the newsletter: 1. Provide opportunities for my baby to explore and learn (61%); 2. Feed my baby safe and healthy food (60%); 3. Talk and listen to my baby (60%); 4. Try different ways to calm my baby and help my baby stop crying (59%); 5. Have patience when my baby is fussy or does something annoying (59%); 6. Protect my baby from accidental injuries (56%); 7. Be less angry when my baby is difficult (51%); and 8. Show my baby books and pictures (51%). Forty-six percent said that the newsletter had helped them to find additional information or check websites for specific parenting topics, and 44% said that it helped them talk about parenting with others. In addition, 88% of the participants said that the newsletter help them feel more comfortable in talking with their doctor.
Publications
- Ebata, A.T., Richardson, J.A. and Zwilling, A. 2009. Promoting positive parenting and information seeking among low-income rural and urban parents of infants. Poster presented at the annual Children, Youth, and Families At Risk Conference, Baltimore, MD.
- Kaiser, M., Pyatt, J., Richey, J., Hunt, A., DeLoach, M., Mosler, S. and Baksh, S. 2009. Partners in parenting: Tools to nurture success. Workshop presented at the annual Children, Youth, and Families At Risk Conference, Baltimore, Maryland. Proceedings at http://www1.cyfernet.org/cyfar2009/workshops.html.
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Progress 05/01/07 to 04/30/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The state project team worked with local staff to successfully submit annual reports, a renewal application, and projected budgets. Project team held 15 monthly teleconferences for updates and implementation discussions of the project. In addition the state project team provided on-going technical assistance with each of the local projects. An all-staff retreat was conducted to insure common vision and understanding of the CYFAR program model and Illinois project on November 28-29, 2007. The agenda included: review of history of CYFAR in Illinois, Partners in Parenting goals, integrated program components, project roles, and the development of action plans to meet project objectives. Dr. Aaron Ebata, Co-Project Director, conducted electronic training on utilizing the Parenting 24/7 website on March 11, 2008, project staff were encouraged to participate in CYFERNet training on Systems Change on October 7, 2007, and the state project team conducted orientation and evaluation protocol and project training to new Cook County staff on June 9, 2008. Local sites completed action and sustainability plans. In conjunction with local coalitions, each site also completed an inventory of existing parenting programs in their communities. They will use this information for program modifications and future program implementation. Local staff recruited 350 new Cohort 2 program participants. Sites distributed monthly or bimonthly newsletters to 762 registered participants and conducted 35 workshops utilizing the Your Young Child curriculum topics and the Parenting 24/7 website. Local site staff also followed up non-respondents to the first year evaluation surveys and worked with coalitions in developing leadership towards sustainability. PARTICIPANTS: Alvin D. Zwilling, Extension Specialist Project Development and Sustainability, Co Project Director, Judee Richardson, Extension Specialist Family Life, Co Project Director, Aaron Ebata, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist Family Life, Gerri Peeples, Extension Specialist, Family Life, Co Project Director, Andre Mbassa, Evaluator, Tom Ward Extension Specialist, Computer Training Services. Cook County Willene Buffett, Cook County Director, Sharon Baksh, Asst. Director, Curriculum and Evaluation, Marilu Andon, Cook County Educator, Daphne Lloyd, Community Organizer. Community and faith based program partners. Proviso Township, Maywood Mentoring Program, Proviso-Leyden Council for Community Action, Department of Human Services, Chicago Nutrition Center, Chicago Public Library, Simpson Academy for Young Women, Teen Parenting program, Chicago Department of Human Services- Family Community Resource Center, Friend Family Health Center, Harper High School and A Knock at Midnight. Southern Illinois: Franklin County Alice Hunt, Family & Consumer Science Community Worker and Joy Richey, County Extension Director. Jackson County Joyce Pyatt, Family Life Educator, Jefferson County Myrtle DeLoach, County Extension Director and Susan Mosler, CYFAR Community Coordinator, Coordinator Milly Kaiser, Family Life Educator, Community based partners include: Adolescent Health Center, Child Care Resource and Referral, Child and Family Connections, Community High Schools, Comprehensive Services, Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, Department of Child and Family Services, Family Center, Family Community Resource Center, Family Medicine Clinic, Head Starts, Health Departments/WIC, Hospitals, Human Services, Regional Office of Education, Rend Lake College Parenting Program, and Project Echo/Even Start. Faith-Based Program Partners includes: Baptist Children's Home and Services (Angel's Cove), Lutheran Social Services, Catholic Social Services, Methodist Children's Home. TARGET AUDIENCES: An analysis of the demographic characteristics of the 762 participants recruited as of October 1, 2008 clearly indicates that the project is reaching the intended "at-risk" audience being targeted by CYFAR. Over 58% of the participants have at least one risk factor (defined as living in a family that qualifies for public assistance; family income falls below the poverty threshold; family income is less than 75 percent of the State or county median income; a parent did not complete high school). Over one-half (56%) are first time mothers, with other participants having between 1 and 8 additional children (with a median of 2 children). Taken together, the participants are responsible for over 1,350 children. Participants' age varies from 15 to 49 years with the median age of 23 years. Just over one-third (38%) are married or live with a partner and 23% are single and live alone. A plurality of program participants identify themselves as African American (43%), while 41% identify themselves as White and 14% as Latino. Most of the parents have only a high school (51%) or General Education Degree (16%). Two-thirds of participants (67%) are unemployed, with 30% going to school part-time or full-time. Over one-half (59%) of the participants have family incomes less than $12,000, with 29% making between $12,000 and $19,999, and only 12% making over $20,000. Of the 287 Cohort 1 evaluation surveys that have been mailed (as of October 1, 2008), 81 (28%) were returned completed, while 72 (25%) were returned because participants had moved and could not be located. If the returned surveys are taken into account, the participation rate is 37.67%. In general, mobility was higher among urban participants and those making less than $12,000. In addition, those in Cohort 1 who actually returned surveys were more likely to be older, have incomes greater than $12,000, and have at least a high school degree. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Surveys used include Partners in Parenting Registration form and Just In Time Parenting (JITP) Newsletter evaluation surveys. The JITP Newsletter evaluation survey includes an instrument developed by the eXtension JITP Community of Practice for evaluating knowledge gains attributable to age-paced newsletters. The use of a previously designated standardized measure (the KIDI) was discontinued to address concerns about retaining evaluation participants (due to the length of the survey) and was approved by our USDA liaison. Two measures were initially proposed to assess confidence and competence. Items from an instrument proposed by the eXtension group to evaluate the national Just In Time Parenting Newsletter (JITP) were modified for use in this project. The use of a previously designated standardized measure (the PSOC) was discontinued to address concerns about retaining evaluation participants (due to the length of the survey) and was approved by our USDA liaison. Two measures were initially proposed to assess parenting practices that promote nurturing relationships. Items were modified from an instrument developed by the eXtension group to evaluate the national JITP newsletters, along with the Parenting Style and Dimension Questionnaire (PSDQ). We initially proposed assessing parenting practices at the end of Year 1 and Year 2, however, we have discontinued the use of the PSDQ at Year 1 because (a) many of the items were inappropriate for 1 year olds and would result in scoring difficulties, and (2) the length of the scale may have been contributing to participants not completing the survey. We will continue to use the PSDQ in our Year 2 survey. These changes were discussed with and approved by our USDA liaison.
Impacts
For all of the following short term results the number of participants will remain the same: 1) Parents will increase knowledge of child development; 2) Parents will increase their confidence and competence in functioning as a parent; 3) Parents will increase parenting practices that promotes nurturing relationships. Number of participants: 762 registered participants (412 for Cohort 1 and 350 for Cohort 2) as of October 1, 2008. As of this date, 81 participants in Cohort 1 had completed the Year 1 surveys. Of the 287 Cohort 1 evaluation surveys that have been mailed (as of October 1, 2008), 81 (28%) were returned completed, while 72 (25%) were returned because participants had moved and could not be located. If the returned surveys are taken into account, the participation rate is 37.67%. In general, mobility was higher among urban participants and those making less than $12,000. In addition, those in Cohort 1 who actually returned surveys were more likely to be older, have incomes greater than $12,000, and have at least a high school degree. Preliminary data thus far points to the potential usefulness of age-paced newsletters for increasing knowledge of infant development among high-risk parents and significant others in the lives of their children. Most of the participants (61%) said they read all articles in all issues. After reading the newsletter, 62% pass it on sometime to someone else (most often a spouse, partner, relative, or friend). Over 90% of program participants were "very satisfied" with the information provided in the newsletters. When asked to compare the usefulness of the information in the newsletter to other sources of information, 87% said it was "as or more useful" than doctors or other health care professionals, over 60% said it was "as or more useful" than child care providers, and over 50% said it was "as or more useful" than parenting classes and websites. In terms of knowledge, over 85% of the participants "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that the newsletters helped them learn specific things that would promote positive parenting. Participants reported gaining confidence and a sense of competence by reading the newsletter. Eighty six percent "agreed" or "strongly agreed" that they felt more confident in their skills as a parent from reading the newsletter, while 89% said they now felt more comfortable talking with their doctor when they had a question or concern. Moreover, parents also reported that the newsletters encouraged positive parenting practices such as: providing opportunities for their baby to explore and learn (68%), trying different ways to calm their baby and help their baby stop crying (56%), be less angry when their baby is difficult (45%), and talk and listen to their baby (57%).
Publications
- Zwilling, A., Mbassa, A., Brown, Y., Kaiser, M., Pyatt, J., Richardson, J. and Richey, J. 2008. Partners in parenting: Successful strategies and lessons learned. Paper presented at the annual Children, Youth and Families At Risk Conference, San Antonio, TX.
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Progress 05/01/06 to 04/30/07
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Successful submission of annual reports, renewal application, projected budgets, and response to proposal questions; Preparation, submission, revisions and development of instruments for U of I IRB approval. All staff associated with the project completed Human Subjects Research Education Model and become certified; Held 11 monthly teleconferences of project team for updates and implementation discussions. Project coordinator also made site visits to each site; Developed and conducted training on research ethics, research protocol, data security, participant recruitment, evaluation strategies and use of electronic registration database; Developed and conducted training on the history and vision of the CYFAR initiative, description of the project goals including coalition building, integrating technology and project sustainability, project implementation time lines, and project evaluation and reporting; Hosted USDA Liaison Site Visit on September 26-28, 2007. The identified
programmatic resources include age-paced newsletters Parenting the First Year, Parenting the 2nd and 3rd Year, the Your Young Child curriculum, and the Parenting 24/7 website. The Project Team has coordinated the procurement and logistical tasks to ensure delivery of the newsletters. Currently reached 70.75% of targeted goal, reaching intended at risk audience,with over 60% of participants with an identified risk factor. Newsletter distribution began May, 2007, with 1,063 newsletters distributed to date. The Family Life Team has trained Extension Educators in the use of the YYC curriculum and they in turn have introduced the curriculum resources to local staffs and coalition members. The project has delivered 6 worksohps reaching 75 parents. The Parenting 24/7 website and related educational and promotional materials have been introduced to local staffs and coalition members. Designed an electronic web-based registration and mail management tool, which was developed by University of
Illinois Campus Information Technologies and Educational Services (CITES). The CYFAR online database system comprises five components (newsletter registrants, survey recording, workshop recording, monthly mailing list and administrative tools) that allows one to keep track of parents who are participating in the program. The system provides a template to enter participant registration information, monitor participation through recording completed surveys, and documenting numbers and titles of workshops attended. It also allows one to track baby's monthly anniversary, download an Excel spreadsheet so one can print out mailing labels and lists for newsletters distribution. The University of Illinois, College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) Office of Professional Development financially supported training for staff to understand the concepts of sustainability and developing sustainability plans. Dr. Lydia Marek, from Virginia Tech conducted a one day train the
trainer session. Six project team members attended the training session. The trainers will then utilize this knowledge in work with local site staff, partners and coalition members.
PARTICIPANTS: The CYFAR state project team includes the following individuals: Co-Project Directors Aaron Ebata, Associate Professor and Extension Specialist, Adolescent Development; Gerri Peeples, Extension Specialist, Parent Readiness and Family Life; and Al Zwilling, Extension Specialist, Project Development and Sustainability. Project Leader Judee Richardson, Extension Specialist, Family Resiliency; Project Evaluator Andre Mbassa, Extension Outreach Assistant, Evaluation; and Project Technologist Tom Ward, Extension Specialist, Computer Training Services. The Cook Team includes Yvonne Brown Community Project Director, Willene Buffet, Community Project Director, Rosalind Dale, Community Project Director, Lasana Kazembe, Community Project Connectivity Contact, and Peggie Stokes, Community Project Coordinator. Southern Illinos staff include: Franklin County - community worker Alice Hunt and county director Joy Richey, Jackson County - family life educator, Joyce Pyatt, Jefferson
County - community worker, Susan Mosler, and Southern IL Project Director - family life educator, Milly Kaiser. Partner Organizations: The local Cook County Unit has placed the project on its plan of work (annual and four year) and has added an ad hoc committee to its Advisory Council. This ad hoc committee will focus on recruitment and sustainability for the program. The Advisory Council meets quarterly and will involve representatives from the following agencies: TCA Health, Proviso Leyden Council for Community Action, Resurrection Health Care, Department of Human Services, Chicago Department of Public Health and CEDA. In southern Illinos the following county partners have been identified: Franklin County: Benton Community High School, Frankfort Community High School, Franklin/Williamson Bi-County Health, Department of Children and Family Services, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Early Head Start, Child Care Resource and Referral, SIU Family Medicine, Franklin County Extension
Council, Family Community Resource Center, Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Court Appointed Special Advocate Program, Franklin/Williamson Human Services, Head Start, Project Echo/Even Start, Jackson County: Adolescent Health Center, Jackson County Health Department, Catholic Social Services of Southern Illinois, Child and Family Connections, Family Center, Jackson/Perry Regional Office of Education, Memorial Hospital of Carbondale, Illinois Department of Human Services, Parent Educator, Jefferson County: Comprehensive Services, Jefferson County Health Department, Methodist Children's Home/Best Beginnings, District #80 Even Start Program, Rend Lake College Parenting Program/Mt. Vernon Township High School. The University of Illinois, College of Agriculture, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) Office of Professional Development financially supported training for staff to understand the concepts of sustainability and developing sustainability plans. Dr. Lydia Marek, from
Virginia Tech conducted a one day train the trainer session. Six project team members attended the training session. The trainers will then utilize this knowledge in work with local site staff, partners and coalition members.
TARGET AUDIENCES: Results from the descriptive statistics of participants are summarized as follows: - 52.3% are first time moms - Other participants have between 1 and 8 children with a median of 2 children - 39.6% are married or live with a partner and 25.9% are single and live alone - The participants are African Americans (42.3%), Whites (42.3%), Latino (13.8%) and others (1.6%) - Over 600 children can be impacted by these families - 51% completed high school or GED - 17% completed less than high school or GED - 67.6% are unemployed - Less than 25% go to school part time or full time - Income level 57.4% earn under $11,999, 37.9% earn between $12,000 and $39,999, 3.2% earn between $40,000 and $59,999, and 1.5% earn over $60,000 Preliminary findings are used to check if participants in the project are indeed represented from the intended audiences. CYFAR criteria require that at least 20% of the population in targeted communities must live in households with incomes below the
poverty level. Also, a minimum of 50 percent of participants at each site must meet one or more of the following characteristics: family qualifies for a public assistance program; family income fall below the poverty threshold; family income is less than 75 percent of the state or county median income; a parent did not complete high school. Descriptive statistics presented above clearly indicate that this projct is reaching the intended at risk audience. The substantial percentage of Latino participants (almost 14%) may raise the need for a Spanish version of the newsletter and survey instruments.
Impacts
1. Parents/grandparents will increase knowledge of child development 2. Parents/grandparents will increase their confidence and competence in functioning as a parent 3. Parents/grandparents will increase parenting practices that promotes nurturing relationships. Number of participants in evaluation: 389. Evaluation type: Using registration form and survey instrument for data collection, the Partners in Parenting Registration Form was used to register participants in the program so that participants could begin to receive Parenting the First Year newsletters. In addition, the Partners in Parenting Registration Survey was used to document basic participant demographic information. In addition to providing baseline information on the characteristics of the sample population, the survey also provided a short list of some activities future parents/grandparents are involved in to prepare for the arrival of their newborn baby. Descriptive statistics were performed on the
preliminary data collected and frequency distributions were summarized. Findings: Results from the descriptive statistics are summarized as follows: - 52.3% are first time moms - Other participants have between 1 and 8 children with a median of 2 children - Participants' age varies from 15 to 48 with the median age of 23 - 39.6% are married or live with a partner and 25.9% are single and live alone - The participants are African Americans (42.3%), Whites (42.3%), Latino (13.8%) and others (1.6%) - Over 600 children can be impacted by these families - 51% completed high school or GED - 17% completed less than high school or GED - 67.6% are unemployed - Less than 25% go to school part time or full time - Income level 57.4% make under 11,000 37.9% between $12,000 and $39,999 3.2% between $40,000 and $59,999 1.5% over $60,000. Preliminary findings are used to check if participants in the project are indeed reflective of the intended audiences. Descriptive statistics presented above
clearly indicate that this project is reaching the intended at risk audience. In addition, we were able to obtain email addresses from about 25 percent of the registered participants. This information is quite valuable, because lack of computer and email access has been viewed as a potential barrier to programmatic implementation with this population. However, our findings indicate that an online distribution of newsletters and any additional evaluation materials could be possible in subsequent years of this project. 1. Community coalitions are increasing the number of parent/grandparent programs offered in the community Extension staff and coalition members and partners are collecting this information. 2. Parents and grandparents who completed the program are participating in more programs and seeking more information from formal and informal sources. Number of participants in evaluation: 389 Evaluation type: Standardized survey instrument for evaluating Partners in Parenting
program. Data collection will begin in January 2009.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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